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February 2026 UME Master Gardener
State Office Announcements
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We hope you all have thawed out from our winter weather! We are certainly looking forward to the longer, warmer days ahead.
Our newsletter this month includes a save the date for Giving Day and new continuing education opportunities!
| | | Year of Container Gardening | | The PowerPoint presentation is now available. | | |
Get ready for #GivingDayUMD!
On March 4, join fellow University of Maryland alumni, faculty, staff, students, and volunteers for an extraordinary day of giving back. On this one-day campaign, please show your support for Extension’s home horticulture services by contributing to the Home and Garden Information Center Fund. All gifts to our fund will also count to help the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources unlock a challenge grant to support student scholarships. Learn more about Giving Day.
| | Statewide Meetings and Continuing Education | | Native Grasses to Fall in Love with | | |
Thursday February 19, 12:00 – 1:30pm, Zoom
This Valentine’s season, join us for a special educational webinar celebrating the beauty, benefits, and ecological value of Maryland’s native grasses. UME Principal Agent Associate Mikaela Boley will guide participants through the many reasons to fall in love with native grasses — from their role in supporting pollinators and wildlife to their resilience in home landscapes and public spaces. Whether you’re new to native grasses or already a devoted admirer, this webinar will deepen your appreciation for these often-overlooked garden heroes.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this activity, please contact Stephanie Pully at pully@umd.edu or (301) 226-7616 before February 5, 2026.
| | How to Create Habitat Corridors for Rare Insects in Your Backyard | | |
Monday March 9, 12:00 – 1:30pm, Zoom
Backyards can play a critical role in conserving rare insects by linking fragmented habitats. This talk highlights some of Maryland’s rare insect species and explains how ecologically friendly planting choices and yard maintenance practices can help protect them.
Our speaker, Max Ferlauto, is the State Entomologist for the Maryland Natural Heritage Program and a recent graduate of the UMD Entomology department.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Stephanie Pully by February 23 at pully@umd.edu or (301) 226-7616.
| | Winter Grow It Eat It Meeting | | |
Wednesday March 11, 10:00am – 2:00pm, Hybrid
Join us in-person at CMREC Clarksville or on Zoom for our Winter Grow It Eat It meeting, our last with Jon Traunfeld before he retires!
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this activity, please contact Stephanie Pully at pully@umd.edu or (301) 226-7616 before February 25, 2026.
| | Monthly Plant Clinic Updates | | |
Second Wednesday of the month, April-October, 12:00 – 1:00pm, Zoom
Join us for monthly updates from our UME experts on what questions or hot topics you might encounter at your upcoming Ask A Master Gardener Plant Clinics!
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact Stephanie Pully on or before 2 weeks prior to the webinar at pully@umd.edu or (301) 226-7616.
| | Getting Started with Native Plants | | |
A 4-part webinar series with Extension specialists aimed at new native gardeners to learn how to start, maintain, and grow a native garden. Our webinar series will take place via Zoom. Register for each session you would like to attend, and the information to join the Zoom will be emailed to you the day before the session.
Please note: These sessions will NOT be recorded. Please only sign up if you can attend, and be prepared to take good notes.
Sessions:
- Tuesday, April 7: Designing with Native Plants
- Friday, April 10: Choosing the Right Native Plants
- Tuesday, April 14: Building a Thriving Habitat
- Friday, April 17: Maintaining & Multiplying Your Native Garden
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Stephanie Pully on or before 2 weeks prior to the session date at pully@umd.edu or (301) 226-7616.
| | Catch Up on Continuing Education | | |
Did you miss any of our continuing education webinars last year?
Check out the recordings below! You can always see both upcoming continuing education opportunities and recorded webinars on the State MG Continuing Education webpage.
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Working the Night Shift: Pollination After Dark
Join Emily May to learn more about the pollinators that come out to work as others turn in for the evening. Moths, flies, beetles, and other dusk and night-time pollinators can play important roles in pollinating wild and managed plants.
| | | Lunch & Learn: Natives at Noon | | |
Lisa Kuder, Native Plants & Landscapes Specialist, is launching a new Natives at Noon webinar series in 2026!
You can find the schedule of webinars for the whole year at the button below:
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When: Saturday, March 14, 2025 from 7:30 AM-4:00 PM
Where: Central York Middle School (York, PA)
Don’t miss the annual GardenWise event, where research-based insights on sustainable gardening and environmental stewardship take center stage. Designed for both new and experienced gardeners, GardenWise offers engaging sessions led by experts who share practical tips, innovative techniques, and the latest findings to help you cultivate a thriving, eco-friendly landscape. Space is limited. Preregistration is required.
| | Lahr Native Plant Symposium | | |
Save the date for the 39th annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium, coming up on Saturday, March 28th, 2026, from 9:00am-4:00pm, and held at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, DC!
This all-day event features a slate of expert speakers who will touch on a variety of topics, exploring themes both new to the Symposium and familiar. Join us for an engaging day of presentations and conversation as we delve into the world of native plants.
This year’s topics include:
- Traditional ecological knowledge and the relationship between people and plants
- The ecological link between native birds and plants at the U.S. National Arboretum
- Regenerative gardening, agroforestry, and supporting a healthy planet
- How to utilize native plants in designing a four-season garden
- The intersection of native plant purism and sustainable horticulture and superior garden performers
Your ticket includes a provided lunch with gluten free and vegan options available. Additionally, the Friends of the National Arboretum Native Plant Sale will happen concurrently outside the Symposium from 8:00am-1:00pm! Come early to the Symposium or leave time during the lunch hour to shop.
| | Home and Garden Information Center | | |
Stephanie Pully
UME Master Gardner State Coordinator
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Kaitlyn Baligush
Program Management Specialist
| | The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to any person and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression. | | | | |
